English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background  Zoonotic leishmaniosis, caused by the protozoan  Leishmania infantum , is a public and animal health problem in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin. Several phlebotomine sand fly species from the subgenus  Larroussius  are vectors of  L. infantum . Data from dogs living in endemic areas of leishmaniosis advocate the use of antibody response to phlebotomine sand fly saliva as an epidemiological biomarker for monitoring vector exposure. The aim of this study was to analyse the exposure of cats to phlebotomine sand flies using detection of IgG antibodies to  Phlebotomus perniciosus  saliva. The association between phlebotomine sand fly exposure and the presence of  Leishmania  infection was also investigated.    Results  IgG antibodies to  P. perniciosus  saliva were detected in 167 (47.7%) out of 350 cats; higher antibody levels were present in sera collected during the period of phlebotomine sand fly seasonal activity (OR = 19.44, 95% CI: 9.84–38.41). Cats of 12–35 months had higher antibody levels than younger ones (OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.39–9.16); this difference was also significant with older cats (for 36–95 months-old, OR = 9.43, 95% CI: 3.62–24.48; for older than 95 months, OR = 9.68, 95% CI: 3.92–23.91).  Leishmania  spp. DNA was detected in the blood of 24 (6.9%) cats, while antibodies to  L. infantum  were detected in three (0.9%). Only one cat was positive to  Leishmania  by both techniques. Cats presenting IgG antibodies to  P. perniciosus  had a significantly higher risk of being positive for  Leishmania  infection.    Conclusions  To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating anti-sand fly saliva antibodies in cats. The evaluation of the contact of this animal species with the vector is important to the development of prophylactic measures directed to cats, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of infection in an endemic area. Therefore, studies evaluating whether the use of imidacloprid/flumethrin collars reduces the frequency of  P. perniciosus  bites in cats are needed. It is also important to evaluate if there is a correlation between the number of phlebotomine sand fly bites and IgG antibody levels.

parasites and vectors

Antibody response to Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva in cats naturally exposed to phlebotomine sand flies is positively associated with Leishmania infection